A collection of sonnets on the navigation of the Aegean archipelago, this is also thought to be the first printed book to contain navigational sea charts. There are 48 woodcut charts, two of which are double-page illustrations. Leaves [a]1 recto-[a]3 recto contain a dedicatory epistle, in verse, to the Doge Giovanni Mocenigo, his name being disguised in an acrostic.

Title and imprint from ISTC.

The author has sometimes been identified as Bartolomeo Zamberti.

Signatures: [a¹²] b⁸ [c⁶ d¹⁰ e⁶ f⁸ g⁶].

Median quarto; [a]2 verso: 37 lines, 147 x 62 mm; type: 79G(a); printed initial on [a]1; woodcut maps, each faced by the text describing it.

Leaves [a12] verso, b3 verso, and [c4] verso are in their second states. See: Bühler (Gutenberg Jahrbuch, 1957, pp. 94-97).

Catalogue of books printed in the XVth century now in the British Museum, V, 410

Goff, F.R. Incunabula in American libraries, B183

Incunabula short title catalogue, ib00183000

COPY NOTE: Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy Q.405.128 with each chart containing early/contemporary Italian annotations naming the various locations depicted. Many charts enhanced with illustrations, possibly in the same hand. Leaf dimensions: 235 x 170 mm.

PROVENANCE: Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy Q.405.128 purchased May, 1940.

BINDING: Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy Q.405.128 bound in modern, navy blue goatskin. Title stamped in gilt along the spine.

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